We got our Patterdale partly because I'd wanted a dog for all my life and we were at last in a position to have one (enforced exercise a definite plus point), and partly because she would make a useful working dog for DH. She came to us very very young from an amateur breeder, and quickly became an expert at keeping the bunny, mice and rat population down at DH's work, and getting all the housekeeping and security staff to fall in love with her.
Sadly, it all went tits up when she damaged a disc in her spine at the age of 2, and became mean and aggressive towards people and dogs because of her pain. By the time the disc fully ruptured and almost paralysed her at 4, she was un-insurable and I paid a handsome price to Noel Fitzpatrick to operate and save her.
She is now 10, and although she moves around ok she has nerve damage, severe tremors, and hind limb weakness. She is vicious and has bitten two people. She's seen 6 behaviourists - to no avail - and is on long term pain management medication. She is limited to 15 minutes walking a day, which I have to do at 5am to avoid passing dogs or people.
She's a noisy, expensive, high maintenance, pain in the arse gobshite, and one day she just won't get up. And then I will have to say goodbye because she's not having another surgery, and I might cry forever. She is curled up with me on the sofa and has just snarled crossly at me because I moved slightly, the little fuckwit. I adore her.